The Internet can make the news more democratic, giving the public a chance to ask questions and seek out facts behind stories and candidates, according to the head of the largest U.S. online service.

    "But the greatest potential for public participation is still in the future," Steven Case, Chairman of America Online, told a recent meeting on Journalism and the Internet sponsored by the Freedom Forum (论坛). However, some other experts often say the new technology of computers is changing the face of journalism; giving reporters access to more information and their readers a chance to ask questions and turn to different sources.

    "You don't have to buy a newspaper and be confined to the four corners of that paper any more," Sam Meddis, online technology editor at USA Today, observed about the variety of information available to computer users.

    But the experts noted the easy access to the Internet also means anyone can post information for others to see. "Anyone can say anything they want, whether it's right or wrong," said case Readers have to determine for themselves who to trust. "In a world of almost infinite voices, respected journalists and respected brand names will probably become more important, not less," Case said.

    "The Internet today is about where radio was 80 years ago, or television 50 years ago or cable 25 years ago," he said. But it is growing rapidly because it provides people fast access to news and a chance to comment on it.

 

1.  The main topic of this passage is __________

     A. the development of journalism          B. the rapid development of the Internet

     C. the effect the Internet has on journalism   D. the advantages of the Internet

2.  It can be inferred from this passage that the fact that ______ may NOT be regarded as an advantage of the Internet.

     A. the news can be made more democratic     B. the public can turn to different sources

     C. the public can get a chance to ask questions

     D. anything can be posted on the Internet for others to see

3.  The correct order for the appearance of the four technologies is_________

     A. Internet-cable-television-radio          B. Radio-television-cable-Internet

     C. Radio-cable-television-Internet         D. Television-radio-cable-Internet

4.  Which of the following statements is true

     A. Only respected journalists can post information on the Internet for others to see.

     B. Respected journalists will probably become more important than before.

     C. Everyone is using the Internet now.

     D. The greatest potential of public participation of the Internet is in the near future.

核心词汇注释

democratic       adj．民主的，民主主义的，民主政体的，平民的

candidate         n．候选人，投考者

participation       n．分享，参与

journalism       n．新闻业，报纸杂志

sponsor         n．发起人，保证人，主办人    vt．发起，主办      u．赞助

confined       adj．被限制的，狭窄的，分娩的

access           n．通路；访问：入门    vt．存取：接近

infinite           n．无限的东西(如空间、时间)；[数]无穷大

              adj．无穷的，无限的，无数的，极大的

journalist         n．新闻记者，从事新闻杂志业的人

comment         n．注释，评论，意见       vi．注释，评论

长难句剖析

    The Internet can make the news more democratic，giving the public a chance to ask question and seek out facts behind stories and candidates，according to the head of the largest U．S．online service．

    [结构分析]本句中，主干是The Internet can make the news more democratic，后面的现在分词结构giving the public…candidates作主句的状语，表示方式。“according to…”是整个句子的插入语成分。

    [参考译文]据美国一家最大的在线服务商的总裁说，互联网可以通过给公众机会提问并找出事件和候选人背后的事实，而让新闻更加民主。

    The Internet today is about where radio was 80 years ago, or television 50 years ago or cable 25 years ago．

    [结构分析]本句是一个主系表结构，the Internet today作主语，is是系动词，where引导的从句作表语。表语是由三个从句构成的，后两个采用了省略形式。

    [参考译文]现在的互联网处于起步阶段，就像是80年前的收音机、50年前的电视机或25年前的有线电视一样。

    “You don't have to buy a newspaper and be confined to the four comers of that paper any more, “ Sam Meddis, online technology editor at USA Today, observed about the variety of information available to computer users．

    [结构分析]本句中，主干是Sam Meddis…observed，介宾短语about…users作动词observed的状语。引号中的句子是直接引语。

[参考译文]《今日美国》的在线技术编辑Sam Meddis对电脑使用者可获得各种各样的信息评论道，“你再也没必要买报纸了，你的信息不再局限于四四方方的报纸上。”

全文参考译文

    据美国一家最大的在线服务商的总裁说，互联网可以通过给公众机会提问并找出事件和候选人背后的事实，而让新闻更加民主。

    “不过公众参与的最大潜力还有待挖掘，”在最近由自由论坛发起的讨论关于新闻和互联网的会议卜，“美国在线”的主席Steven Case这样说道。然而，其他一些专家常说这种电脑新科技正在改变新闻的面貌，它让记者们能够得到更多的信息，公众也有机会提出疑问并能求助于不同的信息来源。

   《今日美国》的在线技术编辑Sam Meddis对电脑使用者可获得各种各样的信息评论道，“你再也没必要买报纸了，你的信息不再局限于四四方方的报纸上。”

    但是专家注意到，互联网的便捷也意味着任何人都可以发布信息供他人阅读。Case说，“任何人可以想说什么就说什么，不管他的言论是否正确。”读者必须自行决定应该相信谁。“在一个充满着无限种声音的世界里，受人尊重的记者和ping品牌将有可能变得更加重要，”Case又说。 

    他说：“现在的互联网正处于起步阶段，就像是80年前的收音机、50年前的电视机或25年前的有线电视一样。”但因为它可以给人们提供快捷的信息和参与评论的机会，互联网将会飞速发展。

题目答案与解析

1．本文的主旨是_________。   [答案]C

    A．新闻业的发展                B．互联网的快速发展

    C．互联网对新闻业产生的影响    D．互联网的优势

    [解析]综观全文，这篇文章主要是讲互联网对新闻的影响，因此C项为正确答案。

2．从文中可以推断出，_________ 因素不能认为是互联网的优点。[答案]D

    A．新闻可以变得更加民主          B．公众可以求助于不同的信息来源

    C．公众有提出问题的机会          D．任何东西都可以发布在互联网上让别人看

    [解析]本题的依据句是文章的第4段“Anyone Can say anything they want，whether it's right or wrong, ”said Case．Readers have to determine for themselves who to trust．从中可知D项为正确答案。

3．四种技术出现的正确次序是 ________。         [答案]B

A．互联网——有线电视——电视机——收音机

B．收音机——电视机——有线电视——互联网

    C．收音机——有线电视——电视——互联网

    D．电视机——收音机——有线电视——互联网

    [解析]本题可参照文章的最后一段，从中可知正确的次序是B项。

4．以下各项陈述中，哪一项是正确的      [答案]B

    A．只有受尊敬的记者才可以在互联网上发布信息给别人看。

    B．受尊敬的记者将可能比以前更加重要。

C．现在每个人都在使用互联网。

D．互联网公众参与所产生的巨大潜力将在不久的将来显现出来。

[解析]本题可参照文章的第4段，从中可知B项为正确答案。